Multiple Companies Bid To Acquire Hostess Brands

The last shipment of Twinkies may have gone out, but several large companies are bidding to breathe new life into the iconic brand. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Kroger Co. are among several well-known names reportedly bidding for assets of Hostess Brands Inc., the bankrupt manufacturer of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder bread, which said last month it would liquidate and lay off more than 18,000 employees after failing to reach an agreement with its striking bankers’ union.

In fact, according to an anonymous person familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg, there are currently about two dozen bidders interested in acquiring all Hostess assets, only the cakes or bread businesses, or individual Hostess plants or products. In addition to Wal-Mart and Kroger, Sara-Lee parent Grupo Bimbo SAB, Nature’s Own parent Flower Foods Inc., Sun Capital Partners Inc., Alpha Baking Co., Pabst beer owner C. Dean Metropoulouss & Co. and investment firm Hurst Capital have all expressed interest in all or some of Hostess brands.

Samantha Lile is a 2002 Missouri State University graduate of journalism and mass media. She has served as a reporter and editor for various newspapers throughout her journalism career. She made the leap into writing full-time after working for a major financial institution since 2000.

Because of her banking background, Samantha is knowledgeable in finance reporting, but is also strong in commentaries, personal profiles, youth studies, horticulture, history and entertainment-related works.

Samantha lives in Ozark, Mo. with her husband of nine years, four dogs and two cats.